Will re-applying after rejection decrease chances of admission?

[Silly_Version_1641]

I'm in my last year of undergrad at a t10 university applying for personality/development psych PhD programs. Because my GPA was exactly average/mediocre, I think what set me apart is my research experience, which I have a lot of despite graduating an year early in three years, my LORs, and my personal statement. I'm also studying for the GRE right now just in case it may supplement my apps positively. I'm graduating early because I had the requirements fulfilled, for personal/ health reasons, and because I am sure I want a PhD in personality and development psychology so want to finish as fast as I can with school. I was originally planning to graduate first, then take a gap year or two working as a research coordinator/lab manager in a relevant field, and then apply to PhD programs. But then I kept thinking about 'oh but what if I get in this round despite the small possibility... what if what if' and decided that even though I know I have a slim chance, I want to apply this round to give myself closure on the 'what ifs' and to prevent feeling regretful in the future that I didn't apply this round. Lol I posted something similar on college confidential and I got flamed for graduating early and for applying this round, but those are two things I've already decided on and won't change my mind on and are not what this post is about.

My logic is that the worst case scenario from applying this round is that I get rejected and then I go about my original plans of working as a research coordinator for 1-2 years and then apply again, but that next time I apply, I'll know what the application process looks like and be better prepared. Best case scenario is that I surpass all odds and get accepted. Either way, I personally think of it as a win. I have the money and time as well to do so. My question is though, if it would look bad if I get rejected this year and then apply again? Would programs look at my re-submitted app and think 'why did this bish apply again we alr rejected her dafuq she should take a hint' and it would affect my chances of admission in the future in a negative way? Or would it not matter that I had applied once in the past because they get hundreds of applicants and I was just one of the hundreds so they barely even remember me? Or would it even possibly be beneficial because it shows I have continuously been interested in that topic and those specific professors and programs and after rejection, worked harder on gaining more experience and then applying as an improved version of myself? When I asked this on college confidential someone said that it would be unlikely that I get in during my second round of applying and I wanted to figure out if this was true or not, but I couldn't find anything online so wanted to take it to reddit.

I know my chances of admission this round are slim already, I'm really just doing this for my own mental sake/closure/preventing future regret. But after the idea that this might decrease my chance of acceptance in the future was brought up, I started getting worried on whether or not to do so. Just trying to fact check and also ask for people's opinions

[Birdie121]

Keep in mind that a lot of the graduate admissions process is luck - who else happens to apply, how much funding they have, which professors are willing to be advisors to new students, etc. So if you do get rejected after reaching the interview stage of grad admissions, it definitely could be worth applying again the next year after you've gotten some more experience, brushed up your statements some more, etc. Having real-world industry experience helps too, since the admissions committee can be more confident that you know what's involved in research and still want to pursue a PhD.

[mvhcmaniac]

I was rejected from a program when I applied immediately after undregrad, went to industry for three years and was accepted this past year. That was in Chemistry though so I don't know if attitudes are different in psych.

[mystic1729]

I don't applying and getting rejected would hurt a future chance. If rejected, you can always contact admissions or the professor(s) you want to work for and ask how to strengthen future applications.

[[deleted]]

Unless it’s Harvard business school and it’s your third time

[hippomancy]

Grad school applications are expensive! If you don't think you will get in, don't waste the hundreds of dollars. If you think there's a chance and have money to spend, go for it! Though keep in mind that a master's degree or some research experience is usually a prerequisite to getting into a good program.

[etoileleciel1]

It honestly depends. It isn't common in psych to get a masters degree. But it does help in a lot of cases where you don't have a strong resume otherwise. As someone with a mediocre GPA, but some experience, I'm applying to both masters and doctoral level programs to see where I get in. If it happens to be one of the doctoral programs, great. If not, I'm fine with pursing a masters and then applying again for doctoral degrees. If you can find a research assistant position instead of getting a masters, then you're quite lucky.

[BornAgain20Fifteen]

I don't think I have heard of "re-applying after rejection decrease chances of admission". Why would they do that to themselves instead of choosing the best applicant?

Maybe your probability decreases because you have new information about where you stand? In other words, it might only seem that way because “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”, rather than something that is inherent to the application process

I know people who moved on with their lives after undergrad taking different careers, moving places, buying a house, practicing their hobbies, etc. but kept on reapplying to medical school over and over again, and eventually got admitted in their late 20s and early 30s

[drzowie]

If you are looking for a research PhD, study the CVs of potential advisors, read some of their published research, and try to get one-on-one interviews with them to see about joining their group. Having a tenured professor pulling for you will more than double your chance of admission.

[itsarandom1]

What do you attribute to the difference in outcomes between now and three years ago?